The Sun is Going to Shine if we Hold Out

“Weeping may endure for a night. Troubles don’t last always; Joy comes in the morning. Just wait ’til the morning.” Hold Out sermon at New Direction Church

Romans 8:18 reads, “The pain you’ve been feeling can’t compare to the joy that’s coming.” We are living in difficult times, but change is coming and change is on the way. Right now this is a difficult time for many in our country. As the weather gets warmer and schools are letting out for the summer, the 2017-2018 school year for many will be one they never forget. Many of the memories for some will include the triumphs and celebrations, for others, it will be the loss of life. The sanctuary and safety that is school has been stripped from many students. We ask a simple question:

When will it stop?

In 2017, we saw an onslaught of national disasters. We watched as the people from all over came together for the sake of basic human compassion for the fellow brothers and sisters, but 2018 has revealed even more downward turn on the human condition. There has been, on average, one school shooting every week this year. We are about 21 weeks into 2018 and we have seen roughly 23 school shootings where someone was hurt or killed. That averages out to more than one school shooting a week. Many schools around the country acknowledge the horrors and heart-wrenching aspects that each school shooting brings to the individuals hurt and to the affected school, community, and families. The most important action we can take as a school community is to stand with the affected schools with love and solidarity. They need to know in this difficult time they are not alone. As they deal with the aftermath of those shootings, they need to know that no matter how dark it may seem in this moment.

The Sun is Going to Shine if you Hold Out!

Most recently the school shooting tragedy hit close to home. Noblesville, Indiana and Noblesville West Middle School became the latest school and school community to have tragedy strike. On May 25th two people were injured when a gunman opened fire inside the middle school. Luckily, a heroic teacher was able to stop the gunman even after he was struck by bullets. This for many of us was the first time that it became a reality that it could happen to us; it could happen at our school. Now more than ever we must protect our children. Not only must we protect them physically, but we have to protect their innocence. Shootings and someone bringing a gun to school is not something they should have to worry about.

For many of my students, the community, and neighborhood in which they live, gunshots and gun violence is something they know far too much about. The last thing we want is for their school to become a place where they have to worry about gun violence and shootings.

As educators and parents, if the time called for, would move heaven and earth to ensure the protection of children. The time is here and the time is now to move heaven and earth. We must protect our children not just physically, but we must protect their innocence. They are under attack. The system is designed for these school shootings to continue to happen unless we stand up, speak up, and act up. This is our moment to show our children they matter.

To all the individuals affected by tragedy, remember that even though you feel alone, trouble does not last forever. Continue to pray and continue to believe change can come because the things you endure are only temporary because the night is darkest just before the dawn.